1988 Ford Thunderbird vs. 1998 Honda NSX
To start off, 1998 Honda NSX is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1988 Ford Thunderbird. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1988 Ford Thunderbird would be higher. At 3,797 cc (6 cylinders), 1988 Ford Thunderbird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1998 Honda NSX (276 HP @ 7300 RPM) has 136 more horse power than 1988 Ford Thunderbird. (140 HP @ 3800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1998 Honda NSX should accelerate faster than 1988 Ford Thunderbird. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 Ford Thunderbird weights approximately 142 kg more than 1998 Honda NSX.
Both vehicles are rear wheel drive (RWD) - it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, both vehicles do the job better than front wheel drive vehicles. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 1998 Honda NSX (304 Nm @ 5300 RPM) has 12 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 Ford Thunderbird. (292 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1998 Honda NSX will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1988 Ford Thunderbird. 1988 Ford Thunderbird has automatic transmission and 1998 Honda NSX has manual transmission. 1998 Honda NSX will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1988 Ford Thunderbird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 Ford Thunderbird | 1998 Honda NSX | |
| Make | Ford | Honda |
| Model | Thunderbird | NSX |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1998 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 3797 cc | 3179 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Horse Power | 140 HP | 276 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 7300 RPM |
| Torque | 292 Nm | 304 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 5300 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 96.8 mm | 93 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 86 mm | 78 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 10.2:1 |
| Top Speed | 185 km/hour | 274 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1606 kg | 1464 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5050 mm | 4430 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1850 mm | 1820 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1180 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2880 mm | 2630 mm |
